Page 47
“Sure, but you’ll like this one.”
As we drive into town, Dahlia remains quiet, her gaze trained out the window.
I pull my truck in front of Anastasia’s coffee shop, then put it in Park. “Stay here, okay?”
“Okay.”
With a grin, I jump out and walk up the steps to retrieve a tray with two coffees, a small gift bag, a pastry bag, and the picnic blanket. I pause a moment to read the sticky note Anastasia left for me.
I hope this doesn’t technically count as me meddling, but here are some muffins. She ordered the zucchini bread last time, but that’s still in the oven. A zucchini muffin will have to do!. ;)
Grinning, I shove the note into my pocket, then carry it all toward the truck. The door swings open before I can even attempt to grab the handle. Dahlia smiles at me as she leans over the center console.
“You looked like you could use help.”
“Thanks. Here you go.” I offer her the tray of coffees, then open the back door and set the rest on the floorboard.
“Is she really awake this early?”
“She’s usually up by four so she can get the shop ready to open. She bakes everything fresh.”
“That’s why it’s so delicious.”
“She also says she bakes it with love.”
To my delight, Dahlia laughs. “Yeah. I could see that. So this wasn’t the surprise?”
“It’s part of it. But not all of it.”
After making another ten-minute drive down the coast, I pull into the church parking lot and park. Then I climb out, retrieve the stuff from the backseat, and rush around to grab Dahlia’s door for her.
She climbs out carefully, then turns around and grabs both of our coffees from the center console.
I close the door behind her and lock up my truck and start toward the stairs that lead down to the little beach beside the church. I set the bags down, spread out the blanket, then move the bags on top of it.
Dahlia takes a seat and removes her shoes, and once I’m seated beside her and have kicked off my own tennis shoes, she offers me my coffee.
“Compliments of Anastasia.” I offer her the bag of muffins.
Dahlia reaches inside and pulls out a muffin. “Zucchini?” she asks after smelling it. “How does she know me so well already?”
“She’s good,” I reply with a laugh, then take the second muffin as she offers it to me. I bow my head. “Lord, we thank You for this food, and the coffee we are about to drink. Please bless it, Lord, and please bless the hands that prepared it. Thank You for another day in this world. I pray that You guide our steps according to Your will. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.”
“Amen,” Dahlia says, then takes a bite of her muffin.
We eat together in silence, listening to the waves crash against the shoreline. They’re calm today, which makes this morning even more peaceful.
“Thanks for this,” Dahlia says. “The beach just seems to recharge me, and yesterday felt like one hit after another.”
I’m quiet for a moment as I try to formulate words that might offer her some comfort. It’s hard, though, because I can’t even imagine what she’s going through.
I’ve protected dozens of people since I started contracting with Knight Security.
Celebrities, influencers, politicians, you name it. But this is a new one, even for me.
“We will find answers, Dahlia.”
She turns toward me and smiles. “I know.” As she shifts back toward the ocean, I see her close her eyes and take a deep breath. The moonlight shines down on her, casting a glow on her face.
